Caught Testing! 2013 Mini Roadster - Spy Shots

We spied the Mini Roadster with its top up.

Only days after snapping photos of the rakish little Mini Coupe, our spy photographers have caught the Mini Roadster cruising public roads in near-production form. While clunky convertible tops can sometimes ruin a car's lines, the Mini Roadster's cloth top has a neat and very tidy appearance. In fact, judging from the spy pics, we'd say the Roadster (even in top-up mode) is pulling ahead of the Coupe in the looks department.

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The images also give us a much clearer glance at the retractable rear spoiler, mounted on the edge of the trunk. Perhaps BMW/Mini encountered some aerodynamic issues in the wind tunnel? Or maybe a spoiler just looked cool, with the added benefit of giving these 2-passenger Minis some additional grip at speed.

Mini Roadster Concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show

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First seen during the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, the Mini Roadster and Coupe featured a lower stance, heavily raked windshield, and dramatically lowered greenhouse. The rear seats were also thrown out to save weight and add to the sleek new design. With the Mini brand so intent on branching out into larger models—like the Clubman and Countryman—many were relieved to see the brand rediscovering its roots in quirky small cars.

As we first commented in Frankfurt, the Mini Coupe concept even offered more cargo room than the standard Mini Cooper—8.8 cu. ft. versus 5.7. Of course, you lose the convenience of having a rear seat in the Coupe and Roadster. And you can bet that the Roadster's folding soft top will eat up those extra cubic feet of luggage space once it's stowed.

Given their sporty intent, the 208-bhp 1.6-liter 4 cylinder engine from the John Cooper Works model seems a perfect match for the Coupe and Roadster—although other engines might be offered to keep the price in check. As of now, Mini has not revealed information about pricing or the drivetrain. The production version of the Mini Roadster and Mini Coupe will be unveiled this autumn, during the Frankfurt Auto Show.